Abstract
This chapter describes how leaves intercept the sun's rays. To understand the process, basic principles of astronomy are presented. Sidereal time, solar time, apparent solar time, mean solar time, and standard time are defined. The procedure for determining standard time from apparent solar time is given. Interception of direct-beam solar radiation then is discussed. It is based on the direct-beam solar radiation equation that has been in the literature for over 200 years. It can be used on any sloping surface, but in this chapter, we apply it to the sloping surface of a leaf. Four angles need to be known to solve the equation: azimuth and altitude angle of the sun and azimuth and altitude angle of the leaf. An example is given showing how to use the equation to determine light interception on a leaf. An appendix gives the biography of Kepler, whose work laid the foundation for astronomy.
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